Building up the Temple

Be strong.......and now get to work, for I am with you says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid. (Haggai 2:4, 5)

Last Sunday morning I mentioned the children’s chorus ‘Building up the Temple’ and later discovered that it had been sung in our on line Sunday School that morning. And it’s that theme of working in the Kingdom of God that I want to bring to you today.

In Haggai’s day the temple was in ruins.  The people had started to rebuild it but they had grown tired and had been sidetracked into dealing with their own lives, their homes and their business. Haggai brought them back to their commitment to build the temple and in a very short time the work was done.

You may think that this is an inappropriate time to speak about renewing our enthusiasm and commitment to the work of God but I don’t think that is the case. Many people in this time of upheaval have found a new focus on the things that are eternal and already there has been created in many of you a desire to lay aside the things that would distract you and to grow spiritually  - and to help others to grow also.

Haggai encouraged the people with a word from God - ‘my Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt‘. It was many centuries since they had come out of Egypt, but God was still the same God and His work was going forward. And for us, it is many centuries since the death and resurrection of Jesus and since the outpouring of His Spirit at Pentecost, but  He promised ‘I am with you always even to the end of the age’. His Spirit is still moving, and moving amongst us as part of His worldwide church. 

Can we get to work - to build a stronger temple for the Holy Spirit inside our lives ( we are told that our bodies are the temple of the Spirit) and to be ready to commit ourselves to the work of God with a sharper focus and greater enthusiasm when we have that opportunity in the days ahead?
​
Jennifer Jack